Perspectives on Design Models and Theories and Development of an Extended-Integrated Model of Designing

Abstract

In this chapter, we present our perspectives on general characteristics, purposes and validation criteria for theories and models of designing. A theory or model of designing should consist of constructs and their definitions and, a set of propositions, expressed as descriptive relationships between constructs, with which one can describe or explain various characteristics of the facets of designing, relationships among the facets, or relationships among these and various characteristics of design success. The propositions should be testable or verifiable to be validated as a theory or model of designing. In the next part of the paper, we explain the development and validation of Extended---Integrated Model of Designing (E-IMoD). E-IMoD is developed by combining the views of system-environment and information, with the views of activity, outcome and requirement-solution of Integrated Model of Designing (IMoD). E-IMoD is validated by checking if all the constructs of this model can be used to describe or explain all instances in a set of existing protocol studies of designing from earlier research that was undertaken before the model is developed. Results show that E-IMoD, through its views of activity, outcome, requirement-solution-information and system-environment, is able to describe or explain the proceedings in these existing design sessions.